Roger Hodgson helping victims of Hurricane Sandy with song

By Ed Condran, Special to The Mercury

Thursday, November 15, 2012

When Hurricane Sandy devastated New Jersey and New York, Roger Hodgson knew the best way he could contribute to help those in desperate need of assistance was to offer his Supertramp classic “Give A Little Bit.”

The song is being used to help support the Red Cross in conjunction with ABC-TV in their fundraising efforts for victims of Hurricane Sandy.

“I’ve donated the song in the past for Hurricane Katrina Relief and Tsunami Relief,” Hodgson said while calling from San Francisco. “What makes the song perfect is that it asks to ‘give a little bit.’ It wouldn’t work so well if the song was ‘Give A Lot.’ But that isn’t the title and anyone out there should give a little something to help a great cause.”

Hodgson, 62, isn’t only out there soliciting funds for Sandy relief. The veteran singer-songwriter, who became a star a generation ago while fronting Supertramp, is on a tour, which will stop Tuesday at the Keswick Theater.

Expect a healthy dose of Supertramp hits, such as “Dreamer,” “Bloody Well Right” and “The Logical Song.”

“People love hearing those Supertramp songs because they make you feel good,” Hodgson said. “The songs are not only catchy but they are about something. There aren’t as many songs like that on The British native, who now lives in Northern California, has also released four solo albums, the most recent being the underheralded ‘Open The Door,’ which was released in 2000. That makes four solo albums in 28 years for Hodgson.

“I haven’t been the most prolific solo artist but that’s alright,” Hodgson said. “I have a great deal of material to draw from when you add up all that I’ve done during this career.”

Hodgson is content. When he isn’t making music, the laidback vegetarian writes about spiritual and philosophical issues.

After writing the classic Supertramp album ‘Breakfast in America,’ Hodgson settled into California.

“I can’t tell you how much I love it here,” Hodgson said. “Even with all of the craziness here, it’s still a wonderful, wonderful place to be. America is like no other country. Take it from someone, who has been all around the world.”

Roger Hodgson appears Tuesday at the Keswick Theater, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside. Tickets cost $45 and $69.50. Show time is 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 215-572-7650.